From Corporate to Sin, downtown nightspot shifts gears

Thursday

Nov 7, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Rechristened as Sin Nightclub, the venue at 401 Cherry Ave. NE, is newly focused on cocktails, socializing and DJ-fueled dancing for the 21-and-older crowd on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. The dining aspect is gone.

Dan Kane CantonRep.com entertainment editor @DKaneREP

In recent weeks, downtown Canton's Corporate Bar and Grill has undergone a facelift, a name change and the addition of a dancer pole.

Rechristened as Sin Nightclub, the venue at 401 Cherry Ave. NE, is newly focused on cocktails, socializing and DJ-fueled dancing for the 21-and-older crowd on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. The dining aspect is gone.

"To keep open here, we had to reinvent the wheel," owner R.J. Van Almen said. "We tore apart Corporate Downtown and turned it from a restaurant into a nightclub in two weeks time. It was like (the TV shows) 'Bar Rescue' or 'Rescue: Impossible.' "

With no time to spare — the electrician didn't leave until 6:05 p.m. — Sin first opened its doors for a Halloween party Oct. 26. "I was afraid we wouldn't be ready," Van Almen said. "We ended up having an outstanding crowd."

Before its conversion, The Corporate — and especially its patio — was routinely packed on First Friday. "We believe we've had the biggest party Stark County sees all month," Van Almen said. At Sin, "we want to throw that same party more than once a month."

Cosmetic changes to the club have included extending the hardwood floor through the former dining area, building a stage (with the strategically placed pole), rebuilding the bar, adding LED lights and mirrors and removing Greek columns. The new rose-patterned wall "is a great backdrop for women to get their photos taken," Van Almen said.

Sin is open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday, with happy-hour drink specials from 4 to 9 p.m. "We've dropped most of our drink prices by $2 to $3. We're charging $5 for Grey Goose cocktails. We have seven deadly martinis for $7," Van Almen said.

Occasionally, depending on the event, Sin will have a cover charge of $2 or $3. A dress code is enforced. Sin's Facebook page notes, "If you look like an extra from Jersey Shore, we will give you directions to the mall. Up your game a little."

"We're not a sports bar masquerading as a nightclub," Van Almen said. "We provide a much-needed retreat from the same old scene. We want our patrons to embrace a sophisticated club setting. We're giving downtown what it's long been waiting for."

As for safety concerns about Cherry Avenue in downtown Canton, Van Almen said Sin is using both a security company and Canton Police officers. "There will always be a police officer here — or four," he said. "We'd rather be safe than sorry."